Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-01-05
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RELIGION IN. WAR TIMES.

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RELIGION IN WAR TIMES.
At the banquet given Saturday night in
honor of Judges Key and TreWhitt, Col.
Lewis Shepherd made q request second
ed by all of. the gentlemen present, that
Mr.. Templeton, of the Knoxville, bar who
was present, relate an incident which oc-
Cured during the war in north Georgia.
Mr.. Templeton kindly consented, and re-
lated the following in most effective and
touching manner, eiciting the most gene
erous applause at his conclusion :
.My father" said Mr.. Templeton, "re
sides in Chattanooga, but about the time
that Shermanmade his way into the South
he refugeed in Georgia, and stopped in
Gordon. He was preacher, and wher-
ever he went he always preached when
ever an opportunity afforded.
"About the time that; Sherman was
driving Johnston toward Atlanta, some
time in the early part of August, 1854, my
father was conducting a revival at a little
house called Pine Creek church, about ten
iss ~ as' @ ~ ~ s a y
and rapine were at daily occurrence, and
the whole country was subj to visitaE
lions by i1araudiug parties from both
armies. One day the. old sgentl tleD1all Was
preaching a sermon of unusual power, and
before he had gotten we'll under way a
gang Of Confederate soldiers rode up and,
dismodhting out back of the church, asked
If they might be admitted to the church.
Of course they were cordially invited in,
and took prominent seats in the church.
Not long afterward a cloud of dust was
seen in the road from the opposite direc-
tion to what the Confederates had come,
and pretty soon the tramp of horses hoofs
was heard, and it was soon discovered
that it was a squad of Federal troops,
and before the Confederates in the church
could be apprised of the, approach they
had ridden up to the door. Perceiving
that religious services were being held,
they alighted and asked to be admitted.
They were then told that there were Con-
federate soldiers in the church, but insist
ed on going in and they were admitted
likewise.
Naturally the strange spectacle created
sofAe CONSERVATION in the congregation,
confusion would break up the meeting.
But my father raised his voice and began
most fervently to plead better life, be-
seeching his soldier hearers to become
religious and abandon their sins. He
preached with unusual force and power,
the strange scene lending him inspiration.
Strong men were stirred to the depths and
Wept like children, and the scene OF con-
fusion was soon changed to one of strong.
religious awakening.
"When he had concluded his sermon,
as was the custom in those days, he invited
those who were convicted to come forward
to the mourners' bench and pray and talk
with him on the all-important subject.
"Then it was that one Of the grandest
sights ever witnessed occurred. Those
soldiers, enemies to each other, engaged
in o bloody war, arose as one man, friend
and foe together, and marched, to the front
of the church and kneeled together, Con-
federate by Federal, their muskets join
| ing and crossing each other; their rev0l-
evers touching each other as they kneeled s
their heads howed upon the same altar
and there mingling almost in their deep
contrition and profound feeling. All ami
mosities were forgotten, sall strife for
gotten-they were together as brothers
around comAnon altar. u s, 5s55s.. ..s
"After the 1ervice they met on the OUT
side of the Church; they shook hands,
pleged fraternity, and each party went
off, taking opposite directions. They had
been looking for each other perhaps with.
murderous intent. They found each other.
but they separated with love instead OF
hate, friendly instead of angry.
The recital of the story was listened to-
with marked attention and interest, every.
one being deeply impressed with the
beautiful incident, which is true, in every
detail.- Chattanooga Times.
THE WoRK.-Itis is only
recently that science has come to under
stand fully the service which the earthen-'
worln-the humble creature which some,
American boys call the 'sangle-Worm,p
and others the "mud-wOrfn' PERFORMS in
the economy of the world.
It is known that, burrOWing steadily in
the earth, he does valuable work for agri-
culture. The little holes which he makes
let in the air and light to damp places,
and conduct to the roots of the plants the
leaf-mould and surface aecumulations Of
all sorts which these plants need for their
nourishment. But more than this, the
worms bring to the, surface the finely
powdered earth which they consume in
their borrowings, and scatter it over the
soil.
Ewo earth-worms put in a glass vase
eighteen inches in diameter, filled with
sand covered with dry leaves, managed
first to sink the leaves entirely beneath
the sand, and to cover the sand with a
thi4coating ofhumus, or mould. Allthis
was accomplished in six months.
One earth-worm will bring to the sur
face about seven grain avoirdupois of
earth in day. This isa very small guam
tity of earth, but if we multiply it by
fifty-six thousand, the average number Of
worms to an acre, we have more than
fifty pounds of earth raised every day.,
From the 9th of October, 1870 to the 18th
of October, 1876, the worms upon one field
in England broughtap eight tons Of earth,
and in another field sixteen>tons. IA field
in Staffordshiresi is covered annually by
the worms With 4 aapasit OF earth nearS,
ly a quarter of An inch In thickness
By the slow toll of the eartll-worns,
rocks are buried in the ground and the
surface 6fthe earth is~ modified. Tt is
chiefly their work which has buried the
ruins of dead ities' under the ground
Yoatth's Companion.
Be KIND TO THE AGED.-The loneli-
ness Of age How few think of this and
treat with due tenderness and considera-
ton those who have outlived their gene
ration, and whose early companions and
friends have been taken from them! Un-
able to engage in the activities of life they
are no longer brought into contact and
sympathy with those around them, and
the tie of common interest and mutual
dependence binds them together. Their
views and tastes have naturally grown
apart. They share little in common with
others. The future of this life has nothing
to inspire their ambition or excite their
hopes. What calls forth the, energies of
Others has no inspiration for them.
They necessarily, to a great extent, live
in a world of their own, with which those
around them are not familiar. The COM